Posters

Stability of corneal thickness after MyoRing implantation for keratoconus

Poster Details

First Author: A.Daxer AUSTRIA

Co Author(s):                  

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Keratoconus is a progressive disease. MyoRing implantation have been shown to be safe and effective in the visual rehabilitation of Keratoconus. It is, however, not clear whether MyoRing implantation has an imact on the progression of the disease. The purpose of this study is to investigate the development of corneal thickness after MyoRing implantation for Keratoconus as an indicator for Keratoconus progression.

Setting:

gutSEHEN Eye center and Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria

Methods:

Sixteen Eyes of 14 patients suffering from mild to advanced Keratoconus were studied. The age of the patients ranged from 18 years to 40 years (mean 30 years). Postoperative follow-up time ranged from 2 months to 74 months (mean 28 months). MyoRing implantation (DIOPTEX GmbH, Austria) was performed using the PocketMaker Ultrakeratome (DIOPTEX GmbH, Austria). Pachymetry was measured at the thinnest point of the cornea using the Pentacam (Oculus GmbH, Germany). Preoperatve Pachymetry ranged from 361 microns to 560 microns (mean 456 microns).

Results:

Postoperative minimal corneal thickness changed from 456 +/- 56 microns (mean +/- standarddeviation) to 458 +/- 58 microns. The change in minimal corneal thickness between the preoperative value and the latest postoperative follow-up was statistically not significant. Of the 16 eyes 5 (31%) showed improvement of corneal thickness (thickening), 8 (50%) showed no change and 3 (19%) showed mild additional thinning after surgery. Of the 3 eyes showing continous thinning, one progressed from 361 microns preoperatively to 329 microns postoperatively. This eye had a most advanced Keratoconus with an average central K-reading of more than 70 diopters and a maximum K of over 90 diopters. This eye did not reach satisfactory visual result and ended up in Keratoplasty. All other eyes, including those remaining 2 with additional postoperative corneal thinning showed significant visual improvement during the postoperative period. Further interventions like as corneal cross-linking were not indicated.

Conclusions:

MyoRing implantation for the treatment of Keratoconus results in a stable postoperative corneal thickness in the vast majority of the cases. The a-priori combination of MyoRing implantation with corneal cross-linking seems to be not indicated. Even in the few cases with mild postoperative corneal thinning the visual outcome improved during the postoperative period and an additional intervention to stabilize the cornea by means of corneal cross-linking was not indicated. FINANCIAL INTEREST: One of more of the authors... has significant investment interest in a company producing, developing or supplying product or procedure presented